By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Wall Street Journal published a live update that falsely claimed ammunition found at a shooting was engraved with “transgender ideology,” which was later proven inaccurate. This initial reporting was swiftly contradicted by other news outlets and officials who reported different findings about the ammunition’s markings. The author questions the Journal’s decision to publish this unverified information, particularly given the history of false accusations against the trans community and the context of blaming the left for the shooting. The author suggests this incident reflects a bias, as the Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch, appeared to promote the Republican party line.
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The WSJ carelessly spread anti-trans misinformation. This is not a simple matter of a mistake. It’s a calculated move. The knee-jerk reaction of so many right-leaning outlets to immediately scapegoat the trans community in the wake of the recent shooting is revealing. They’re exploiting a tragedy, amplifying a narrative, and intentionally putting vulnerable people in harm’s way. The fact that the WSJ, a supposedly reputable news source, was at the forefront of this is deeply concerning.
This isn’t about just one isolated incident. It’s about a pattern of behavior. The WSJ, like its media siblings, operates within a broader ideological framework, fueled by a conservative worldview. This worldview is rooted in the upholding of traditional hierarchies. Any group that challenges those hierarchies, that exists outside of what they perceive as the established order, becomes a target. Transgender people, existing as they do, are seen as a threat to this order. Their existence, their rights, and their very being become a challenge to the status quo that conservatives cling to.
The evidence is overwhelming. The overwhelming majority of mass shooters are not transgender or non-binary. Yet, this false narrative is being relentlessly pushed. It’s a tactic, designed to demonize, to dehumanize, and to create an “other.” This is how they maintain control, how they rally their base, and how they justify their actions. The fact that the actual facts are readily available doesn’t seem to matter. Truth is often a casualty in this culture war.
We shouldn’t be surprised. Right-wing rhetoric is often characterized by the accusation being a confession. Accusing transgender people of being inherently violent is a projection of their own beliefs, of their own tendencies toward violence, and the justification they feel for it. As studies show, those who support violence are those who hold specific views of hierarchy.
The WSJ’s ownership by Rupert Murdoch should come as no surprise. It’s an extension of his agenda. They weren’t just reporting the news; they were actively participating in a propaganda campaign. They were ready. They were waiting for the trigger. And they hit it, knowing full well the consequences of their actions. They’re banking on the fact that facts don’t matter as much as clicks. It’s a cynical calculation, and they don’t care about the impact on the trans community.
This isn’t an isolated incident. This is the norm. From Fox News to other outlets, the right-wing media machine is constantly looking for new boogeymen, new targets to direct their outrage and stoke their base. They want to keep the focus on the “other” because it is their only strength. It deflects from their failings. The culture war does not end, and even when it does, trans people will still exist.
The outrage is justified. This kind of reporting has consequences. It incites violence. It puts people in danger. It should be met with condemnation and accountability. There is no place for careless or intentional misinformation in journalism. It’s time we held these outlets and individuals responsible for their actions. They should be calling for resignations because of how irresponsible they were.
The WSJ and the entire right-wing media machine are essentially saying, “Know your place.” They are working to maintain their hierarchy and make sure those that aren’t in their group have no access to the same rights and resources that they believe they’re entitled to. This is the core of their worldview, and their coverage of transgender issues is just one example of how it plays out.